The Projectile Launch Project

Parent's Corner

The Projectile Launch Project is one of the larger units we will be completing this semester. There are many ways you can get involved if you would like to help.

First, during Week 1 of the project, all students will be completing a paper model of a Trebuchet (a form of catapult). This is assigned as a homework project to give parents an opportunity to assist in the construction process.

Anyone in the family who wishes to assist with the cutting, folding, glueing, sewing, and interpretation of the directions may do so, as long as they do so under the student's guidance. The student should be the team leader for the project.

In addition to model building and design, other instructional strategies being used in this project include:

• An anticipation guide
• Cartoons (student drawn) showing an amusing launch or launcher
• Checklists (for constuction)
• The Coaching Model
• A comparison matrix (comparing catapult, crossbow, slingshot, trebuchet)
• Concept folders (for simple machines, energy concepts, historical connections)
• Invention (designing and creating a machine that operates on the same principle as a catapult)
• Journal (a design journal to keep track of research results and findings)
• Mastery Learning Related concepts and objectives are revealed to students. Unit is completed when model catapult is done AND all objectives are learned.
• Performance assessments (scoring guidelines for the models and the model's performance).
• Practice worksheets (introducing relevant mathematical concepts)
• Problem-Solving graphic organizer (Solutions and Consequences)
• Quizzes
• Timeline - students will create a timeline of launch machines and the supporting technology.